Method and device for the detection of approaching rail vehicles on the trackside and for warning persons

ABSTRACT

A method for the detection of approaching rail vehicles on the track side for the purpose of warning persons or groups of persons. RFID (radio frequency identification) signals that are continuously emitted from the vehicle are received trackside and are evaluated with regard to their potential danger, and/or RFID signals are generated trackside and are received by the person to be warned via individual-bound RFID receivers in the event of danger.

The invention relates to a method for trackside detection of approaching rail vehicles, and for warning people, and to corresponding apparatuses.

The safety and protection of the health of people, whose work means that they have to be in the hazard area of the tracks of rail vehicles, are of major importance. Every day, there are about 3000 trackworks, for track construction and track repair work just in the area of AG German rail road system. In addition to human error, uncertainty related to the production and perception of an audible and/or visual alarm signal, which is intended to order people to leave the hazard area, is a major cause of accidents. Rail vehicles result in a considerable hazard, of course, because, in contrast to motor vehicles, they cannot change direction and their braking distances are extremely long and difficult to predict. Furthermore, because of the relatively low levels of noise emissions, it is considerably more difficult to perceive modern rail vehicles by hearing, in particular when the environmental noise level is relatively high.

Until now, warnings for working groups have been produced either by organizational measures, or a warning has been produced on a safety basis.

Organizational measures include, for example, track blocks, setting up speed limit areas, driving visually, or visual detection of hazard situations by trackside posts.

Warnings for working groups based on safety are in widespread use, in particular, signal-dependent systems and sensor systems.

FIG. 1 shows the typical configuration of a signal-dependent warning system. In this case, fixed wiring is provided using the existing track protection technology 1, for example signal box technology. An input appliance 3 is connected into the line of the trackside wiring in the hazard area in which people 2 have to be located because of their work. The input appliance 3 is used to signal that the hazard area has been cleared to be driven on, for the location which is responsible for track protection. For a rail vehicle 4 to move, or to continue to move, permission is given only after activation of the input appliance 3, for example by operation of a signal 5.

FIG. 2 shows the principle of a sensor-controlled warning system. In this case, the rail vehicle 4 is identified by means of inductive or mechanical sensors 6 as it travels over them. The sensor signal is connected via an evaluation unit 7 to an audible and/or visual signal transmitter 8 in the hazard area.

Both warning systems have the disadvantage of considerable circuitry and wiring complexity, together with little flexibility.

The invention is based on the object of ensuring early warning to people working on the track, in a simple manner, such that they can leave the track in good time with all tools, machines and appliances, and such that this effectively prevents rail vehicles from entering the working area.

According to the method, the object is achieved in that RFID (radio frequency identification) signals which are emitted continuously by a vehicle are received on the trackside, and are evaluated for hazard potential. According to the apparatus, a vehicle RFID transmitter is provided for this purpose, which interacts with a trackside RFID receiver.

The RFID reader/transponder technology allows greater flexibility than the warning systems sketched in FIGS. 1 and 2. The components required for continuous wire-free signal transmission are distinguished by mature, highly proven technology, associated with reliability and miniaturization. The trackside receiver can be positioned anywhere close to the track, and can be connected to the normal audible and/or visual signal transmitter. A comparison to the known sensor warning system according to claim 2 considerably reduces the trackside wiring complexity since there is no need to install mechanically or inductively acting sensors at discrete points. Furthermore, the approaching rail vehicle position can be located continuously while, in contrast, sensors allow location only at discrete points along the track. Continuous location makes it possible, for example, to identify a change in the direction of travel, thus allowing a warning to be cancelled, if appropriate. Overall, this results in a considerable improvement in convenience, since the evaluation device which is connected to the RFID receiver can determine at least the position, direction of travel and the speed of the vehicle from the received RFID signals. The position and speed measurement allow the timing of the clearance of the track area to be optimized. Conventional warning systems are designed for the fastest vehicle. When a slower vehicle is moving in the area of the work location, this generally results in long waiting times for those involved in the work. Optimizing the timing of the warning allows work procedures to be better planned and optimized. If the RFID signals are appropriately coded, further information can be transmitted to the work location for example relating to the type of vehicle.

According to claim 2, RFID signals are additionally also emitted on the trackside, and are received by a vehicle. This bidirectional data transmission allows the clearance of the hazard area to be acknowledged by the individual employees, with an evaluation device checking that all the acknowledgements have been received, and granting permission for the vehicle to move through only when these acknowledgements are complete. In the extreme, a forced braking command can be sent to the vehicle. Any warning which is received or a received braking command can be indicated and implemented by a vehicle train protection device. The received RFID signals also allow the position of and the distance to the working group to be determined in the vehicle.

Claims 4 and 5 characterize trackside RFID communication which can be used additionally or alternatively. In this case, an RFID signal which is produced in the event of a hazard is received by the person to be warned by means of personal, that is to say carried on the body, RFID receivers. This individual warning system transmits the warning signals audibly, visually or in a tactile form, that is to say by means of vibrating elements, to each individual employee at the work location. The RFID receiver is a component of the personal protection equipment of the employee. The very high technical reliability of the transponder/reader technology should be particularly emphasized for this application.

The invention will be explained in the following text with reference to illustrations in the figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a signal-dependent warning system of a known type,

FIG. 2 shows a sensor-dependent warning system of a known type,

FIG. 3 shows a first variant of a wire-free warning system, and

FIG. 4 shows a second variant of a wire-free warning system.

FIGS. 1 and 2, which show the prior art, have been described further above.

FIG. 3 illustrates a warning system based on transponder/reader technology. The rail vehicle 4 is equipped with an RFID transmitter/receiver 9 which emits RFID signals continuously. This interacts with a RFID transmitter/receiver 10, which is temporarily installed as required on the trackside, in the vicinity of the persons 2 at risk. When the rail vehicle 4 is approaching the trackside transmitter/receiver 10, the received RFID signal is passed on via an evaluation device 11 to the signal transmitter 8, in order to warn the people 2 audibly and/or visually. Conversely, an RFID signal emitted from the trackside transmitter/receiver 10 can also be transmitted as a warning or braking command to the RFID transmitter/receiver 9 on the rail vehicle 4.

FIG. 4 shows a functional extension to the configuration shown in FIG. 3. In this case, the trackside transmitter/receiver 10 and a modified evaluation device 11′ are used, in order to produce an individual personal warning. Each person 2 at risk carries his own RFID transmitter/receiver 12, thus resulting in a further safety improvement. In this case, the evaluation device 11′ can also produce a warning signal, and/or can monitor acknowledgement of the warning by the person 2 at risk.

This individualized warning device can also be combined with conventional warning systems, for example as shown in FIG. 1 or 2. 

1-5. (canceled)
 6. A method for trackside detection of an approaching rail vehicle, the method which comprises: receiving radio frequency identification (RFID) signals that are emitted continuously from a rail vehicle trackside; and evaluating the signals received trackside for hazard potential and, if deemed necessary, warning persons or groups of persons.
 7. The method according to claim 6, which further comprises: emitting radio frequency identification signals trackside and receiving the signals by a vehicle.
 8. An apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 6, comprising: a vehicle RFID transmitter mounted to a vehicle and configured to interact with a trackside RFID receiver.
 9. A method for warning persons of approaching rail vehicles, the method which comprises: in an event of a hazard, generating radio frequency identification signals on a trackside, the signals to be received with personal RFID receivers carried by persons to be warned.
 10. An apparatus for carrying out the method according to claim 9, comprising: a trackside radio frequency identification transmitter to be activated in the event of a hazard, said trackside radio frequency identification transmitter being configured to interact with a radio frequency identification receiver carried upon a person to be warned. 